The Federation of Universities Senior Staff Associations of Ghana (FUSSAG) of Ghana TUC say it will embark on an indefinite nationwide strike at all public universities, beginning Monday August 19,2013.
FUSSAG said it will withdraw the services of “all senior staff including nurses, pharmacists, hospital laboratory technologists, school teachers, cashiers and security officers”.
The decision was taken by the National Executive Council (NEC) of FUSSAG at an emergency meeting on Thursday, August 15, 2013.
FUSSAG says its members will only return to work after concerns relating to their migration onto the single spine salary structure are addressed.
Below is the statement from FUSSAG
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT AN EMERGENCY NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING OF THE FEDERATION OF UNIVERSITIES SENIOR STAFF ASSOCIATIONS OF GHANA (FUSSAG) OF TUC (GHANA) HELD ON 15TH AUGUST, 2013
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Federation of Universities Senior Staff Associations of Ghana (FUSSAG) of Ghana TUC met on 15th August, 2013 to discuss single spine post migration concerns of senior staff of public universities in Ghana. The meeting also deliberated on an earlier press statement issued on 31st July, 2013 and outstanding salary arrears of hospital staff.
The press statement expressed disapproval of the position taken by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to refuse the legitimate demands of senior staff of public universities. The demands were: compensation for excessive exposure of staff to health and occupational hazards, market premium for senior staff, restoration of electricity rebate and restoration of special allowance.
At the end of deliberations, members of NEC resolved to:
-re-affirm the concerns raised in the press statement issued on Wednesday, 31st July, 2013;
-embark on a strike across all the public universities in Ghana with effect from Monday, 19th August, 2013;
-continue the strike action until the concerns are adequately addressed;
-withdraw the services of ALL SENIOR STAFF including nurses, pharmacists, hospital laboratory technologists, school teachers, cashiers and security officers.
The members of NEC urge the Vice Chancellors Ghana (VCG), Government and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to take steps to address the concerns to restore industrial harmony and avoid further disruption of the academic calendar of public universities. The meeting further call on the government as a matter of urgency to settle the outstanding arrears of universities hospital staff.
SGD.
JACOB EMMANUEL ESHUN
(GENERAL SECRETARY)
BABA ATIMBILA
(NATIONAL CHAIRMAN)